Research and Development

Researching the problems
Developing the solutions
Securing the funding
Serving the needs

staff

Nancy Kraft, Ph.D. Director

Gloria McGahey, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

Jim Wheeler, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

Jessica LaBumbard, M.A. Research Associate

Caroline Loyas-Smith, B.A. Research Associate

Collectively, the staff bring more than 100 years of experience teaching at universities, securing nearly 30 million dollars in grants and national and international experience in educational and organizational development consulting. They have degrees and experience in educational policy, clinical and school psychology, school administration, special education, community development, international development, organizational interventions, executive organizational development, and grassroots organizing. Staff have published in numerous peer reviewed journals, authored books and have designed research and large and small evaluation studies.

A Critical Analysis of Standards in Teacher-Education Programs, by Nancy Kraft. Published in 2001, Kincheloe and Weil, Standards and Schooling in the United States

An Analytic Framework for Evaluating the Impact of Education Reform. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, 1993

Best Practices in Communicating and Involving Parents, by Dawn D. Miller and Nancy P. Kraft, published in Best Practices in School Psychology Vol. 3, by Thomas, A. and Grimes, J.

Critical Characteristics of Successful After-School Programs, An Evaluation of the 21st Century Initiative. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, 2001

Developing Curriculum Using Action Research and Collaborative Inquiry, A Case Study. Paper presented at teh Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, 1997

Linking Title 1 and Service-Learning. A Model to Promote Authentic Teaching

Readiness for School, Parents' Perspectives by Nancy P. Kraft. Published in 2007, Kansas Child Vol. 6 Issue 4

Service Learning and Resilience in Disaffected Youth, A Research Study by Nancy Kraft and Jim Wheeler, published in Deconstructing Service Learning by Billig and Eyler

Standards in Teacher Education, A Critical Analysis of the NCATE. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, 2001

Students As Scholar Practitioners, by Nancy Kraft. From Critical Thinking and Learning, An Encyclopedia for Parents and Teachers by Kincheloe and Weil

Teacher Research as a Way to Engage in Critical Reflection, a Case Study by Nancy P. Kraft. Published in Reflective Practice, Vol. 3, N. 2, 2002, Carfax Publishing

The Dilemmas of Deskilling, Reflections of a Staff Developer, by Nancy Kraft. From Applying Educational Research, A Practical Guide 5th Ed. by Gall and Borg

The Role of Service Learning in Critical Thinking by Nancy P. Kraft. Published in Perspectives in Critical Thinking by Weil and Anderson

mission

The primary mission of the department is to develop creative solutions and funding proposals to meet the increasing needs of poverty stricken individuals, children, and families in northwestern Wisconsin.

Secondary functions of the Research and Development department are contracted consulting and evaluation services to assist local governmental school districts and community-based and not-for-profit agencies in organizational development, leadership training, planning, research, professional development, project or program evaluation, and proposal writing.

Examples of Community Research / Evaluation Projects:

Preventing Underage Drinking in Rusk County

Carol M. White Physical Education Program in Flambeau School District

Math Lesson Study Project for CESA 10

Time Out Family Abuse Shelter Project in Rusk County

Continuum of Care Organizational Development in Burnett, Washburn and Rusk counties

Crossroads Adult Literacy in Rusk County